I was totally shocked to hear the news. I'm not into following celebrities so I actually didn't know anything about his private life. I thought of my own depression and suicidal thinking and was sad but grateful that I managed to escape death.

But so many don't. I used to work on a suicide hotline. Suicide is now a more common form of death than car accidents and yet it is hardly ever mentioned let alone openly discussed.

I've actually been surprised at the media's willingness to discuss suicide and mental health issues. I read strong arguments made about reducing stigma and treating mental health issues as equally important as physical health. This is a significant shift that may help many other people, both those that suffer and those that don't understand those that suffer. If someone so amazing as Williams could suffer and die from this illness, perhaps people will begin to change their attitudes.

I learned on the hotline that there is really nothing we can do to stop someone who is determined to kill themselves; that is a fantasy of rescuing someone. So there is nothing we can do about what Williams did. However, there is lots we can do with the aftermath and potential shifts in attitude that this public event has begun to stir.